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Different Types of Industrial Sewing Machines and Their Use

Industrial sewing machines are normally used in mass garment production. An industrial sewing machine is power driven and run at very high speed. There are different types industrial sewing machines. There are some special sewing machines developed for making specific seam and stitch classes.

To have in-depth knowledge on sewing machines, different types of sewing machines are listed in this post. Application of these machines is also mentioned with an example. This would help beginners to visualize machine’s application in making the common products.

1. Single Needle Lock Stitch Machine

This machine makes lock stitches (stitch class 301). Lock stitches are formed with one needle thread and one bobbin thread. This is a widely used sewing machine and used for sewing stitch class 301. Basic to computer controlled version is available in this machine category.

Purpose: Single needle lock stitch machines are used for joining two or multiple fabric plies together. Machine is used to sew light weight, medium weight and heavy materials.

Lock stitch machine

2. Over lock Sewing Machine

Over lock machines are available in 3 threads, 4 threads and 5 threads over edge sewing. An over lock machine can form various type of stitches like, stitch class 503, stitch class 504 and stitch class 512.

Purpose: This machine is used for serging garment panels (example: trouser panels serging) and for over edge stitch. These types of machine are mostly used in knitted garment sewing for over edge stitch. Like side seam stitch of a t-shirt is done using an overlock machine.

3. Flat lock sewing machine

This machine is called as cover-stitch sewing machine. Flat lock sewing machines normally come with 2-3 needles. For bottom cover stitch machine 2 needle threads pass through the material and inter loop with 1 looper thread with the stitch set on the underside of the seam. Flat lock sewing machine form stitches like Stitch class 406.

Flat lock machines are available in two types - Flat bed and Cylinder bed.

Usage of these machines: Flat lock machines are used for hemming sleeve and bottom of the knits products. For cover stitch can be used in any part of the garment for decorative purpose.

Flat lock machine / Cover edge stitching machine (Flat bed type)

4. Feed off the Arm

This machine is used in making flat and felt seam. Two needle threads form the chain stitch.

For example, this machine is used for sewing shirt side seams and under arms, and for sewing jeans inseam.

Feed off the Arm machine

Image of Shirt side seam / jean inseam

5. Button Attaching Machine

A special machine used only for stitching button in a garment. different sizes of button can be attached in same the machine by changing the settings.

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Prasanta Sarkar is the editor and founder of OnlineClothingStudy blog. He is a Textile Engineer and a Master in Fashion Technology from NIFT, New Delhi. He has authored 5+ books in garment manufacturing technology field. Learn more about him and connect with him on Facebook and LinkedIn